Two Towns Go To War by Pete Thomas and Neil Drum

Two Towns Go To War is a two volume study of Irlam and Cadishead's part in the Second World War. Over 1,800 men and women from the district served with the Armed Forces and Merchant Navy and over 100 lost their lives. Many thousands more served with Civil Defence organisations, the Home Guard or in other ways contributed to the war effort.

A summary of the book is below:- Two volumes - 1516 pages- Interviews with 28 local men and women who served in WW2- 100s of photos- Collected stories from families of local WW2 veterans- Summary of weekly news reports from the Cadishead and Irlam Guardian throughout the war years- Tribute to Cadishead soldier Fusilier Simon Annis, killed in Afghanistan in 2009- Price £15.99 (subsidised by the Hamilton Davies Trust – all proceeds to the Trust)

If you would like a copy the books can be purchased directly from the Hamilton Davies Trust by calling in at Hamilton Davies House in Cadishead (Monday to Friday) or by post. If you want to receive the books by mail there is an order form and UK postage charges on the order form on the attached weblink.

A District at War (Irlam and Cadishead’s Part in the Great War 1914 – 1918) by Neil Drum and Pete Thomas

“A District at War” depicts in great detail the part played by the small communities of Irlam and Cadishead, on the battlefield and the home front, in the First World War. It contains many hundreds of biographies and photographs of local men who served and takes the reader in chronological order through the historic events of the period and the contribution made by the men of the district. It contains firsthand accounts of historic events including the Battles of the Somme, Arras and Passchendaele. The Irlam War Memorial lists the names of 137 men who died during the war. The book acts as a permanent record of their lives and their sacrifices and will ensure they are not forgotten.

"A District at War" is on sale at several venues throughout the district, or can be ordered by utilising the attached PDF order form.Please contact The Hamilton Davies Trust for more information 0161 222 4003

This fine study of 1081 men of two Lancashire villages and the surrounding area sets a new benchmark for depth of research, clarity of presentation and excellence of production of the finished article. At a whopping and dense 623 pages, the price of £12.99 is a steal. A really splendid work that is a credit to the authors, the Hamilton Davies Trust that funded the work, and to Irlam and Cadishead themselves. Chris Baker, the Long, Long Trail

This work can be highly commended. As a very exact tribute it is amongst the best in the genre. Bob Wyatt, Stand To magazine (Western Front Association)

This is the best example of this sort of memorial book that I’ve seen. Something like 600 pages packed with individual stories and interesting stuff. The level of detail makes this a fine social and historical commentary on an industrial area, a similar commentary on the war, as well as a fine tribute to the men who served. It is a book of greater significance than just to the local area around Irlam. John Hartley, Author

Made in Myrtle Street by B.A. Lightfoot

Set in Salford in WW1 Pippin’s distressed letter to her father, describing her Christmas dinner in 1916, reflected the difficulties of the families that were left at home when their men went off to war. She was 9 years old and they had just eaten her pet rabbit. The news, however, brought comfort to Edward who, along with his two lifelong pals, quick-witted, rugby loving Liam and the clumsy but compassionate Big Charlie, had just survived a horrific eight months in Gallipoli.

In Made in Myrtle Street, Pippin’s letters reflect the situation at home through the eyes of a young though maturing child. Edward’s replies are those of a caring father who finds it increasingly difficult to hide from his daughter the realities of the war.

Made in Myrtle Street follows the three friends as they endure, with humour and determination, the challenges of Egypt, Turkey and France.

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Reviews:

Absolutely loved this book, couldn't put it down. Believable, accurate, sad and funny. Mainly about the war, but also about the bravery, loyalty, vulnerability, wit and true grit of Salford people.

When I first saw this book I thought it was likely to appeal more to men but I have recently read it and found it to be engrossing. The characters came to life and you came to care about what happened to them. I found myself in tears one minute and laughing the next. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone. It shows the brutality of war and the struggle of those left at home and will keep you turning pages till the end.The author has managed to weave a story which shows the first world war from both the soldiers side and that of their families and friends back home and brings all the images to life with his descriptions.

This is a well-written, carefully researched book that draws out a sensitive understanding of courage, duty and humility of ordinary people caught up in world war conflict.The lives of both those at home and those involved in the fighting abroad are linked through a wonderful device of letters from and to Salford; and it works.The characters are well-drawn with consistent, individual voices which give them authenticity and the narrative keeps moving to make it a good read.Although this is a war novel, ultimately it is anti-war and a story of the dignity of ordinary Salford folk.

This sequel to ‘Made in Myrtle Street’ is now available as an e-book from Kindle and will be published as a paperback in the near future.The book follows the men as they return from service in WW1 and centres round the struggles faced by Liam Murphy as he tries to re-establish himself as husband, father and breadwinner.In ‘Made in Myrtle Street’, the events of the war provided the framework and I tried to explore the characters that were the bit players within this, trying to understand how they reacted when they were thrust into the cataclysm of WW1, how humour and camaraderie helped them cope with losses on the battlefield and the pain of the separation from their families.In ‘Rags, Bones and Donkey Stones’ the characters are developed against the background of the northern town of Salford in the 1920s. Liam Murphy, chirpy and joking when the war started, now mentally bruised by the battles and trying to fit back into the family. His wife is doing all the jobs around the house and their eldest son has taken over Liam’s chair. Callum, his nephew, is a quiet yet gifted engineer whose interest in classical music sits uncomfortably in his working class background. Epiglottis is the ageing thespian and scrivener with a bright intellect that guards long hidden secrets. Lloyd George had promised a land fit for heroes but, for many, things were worse than before the war.Liam, desperate to pay the rent and feed the family, takes over a rag and bone round. Finding a small painting in the inside pocket of a suit that he is given leads to the unravelling of a series of intriguing, sometimes uncomfortable, facts.

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Reviews:

This book brought back memories of the old Salford that I know and love. I was born and brought up down Regent Rd visited my nana's house every Sunday on Liverpool St, went to Clarendon secondary modern, and now live in Claremont so reading this book was like walking down memory lane visiting all the places I used to do when I was growing up, the only dislike I had is that the book has brought it home as to how much the Salford I was brought up in has been spoilt.

I am not used to writting a review so all I will say is that this is a charming book full of smiles. I loved the characters and feel that I now know them. I wept through the last chapter and was quite sad to find the book finished.

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